I have some favourite memories from my children’s early years. Lots of them seem to involve books.
My daughter Catherine used to wake from her afternoon nap in a very crabby mood. The only way I could gently bring her back into the day was to sit alone with her with a pile of books and read her happy. It was very time consuming, there were lots of other industrious things I needed to do, like cooking, washing, writing, chatting to friends or family. Catherine required my undivided attention. Only me alone with a pile of books would do. At the time it was such a hassle, such a ‘time-waster.’ Now, looking back, it is a treasured memory.
“Time spent with our children supporting their educational journey is time well spent.”
My son Jacob struggled with reading in his early years. I remember teachers, Mrs Gayle Goninon in Year 1 particularly, working hard with him to help him through. I remember reading with him many books including Captain Underpants, and slowly watching and supporting him in his reading journey. Around Year 2 he discovered Brian Jacques and the Mossflower series. We both read and discussed every single one and waited excitedly as they were written and released. They still sit on my bookcase, a treasured memory. On a side note, Jake has a Bachelor and Masters degree and works in Tertiary education publications. Proving that early struggles, with intervention by parents and teachers, can be turned on their head.
Time spent with our children supporting their educational journey is time well spent. Time that will never be regretted and sadly, time that passes all too briefly.
“Our school’s history is one of parental involvement... one based on a Christian worldview that equipped their children for life in an ever-changing world.”
At Emmanuel we have been engaging in ‘Visible Learning’ for the past few years. This approach to teaching is grounded in research conducted and analysed by Professor John Hattie. He studied a huge amount of data and looked at what factors had the best outcome on student’s learning. ‘The Visible Learning research synthesises findings from 1,400 meta-analyses of 80,000 studies involving 300 million students, into what works best in education.’ These factors were given a numerical value, and anything over 0.4 was considered to have an acceleration effect on student learning. Interestingly: Early years intervention scored 0.44, Positive home dynamics 0.52 and Parental Involvement scored 0.5. You, as parents/guardians, have an accelerative affect on your child’s learning just by spending time chatting with them about it, reading with them, coming and seeing us about them, ultimately just by being involved in their education.
Our school’s history is one of parental involvement. We were, uniquely, 42 years ago created by parents who wanted a Christian education for their children. One based on a Christian worldview that equipped their children for life in an ever-changing world.
This term there are opportunities for you to be involved in your child’s education. In June we have our Midyear reports and Parent-teacher night, which we would love you all to come to and sit and chat together about your child’s learning journey. Please know that you are always welcome to come chat with us anytime.
Most importantly, I hope you all get to make some treasured memories with your children. Reading, checking work, cooking, shopping, playing, exercising, dancing… the list is endless, of ways you can positively impact your child’s learning journey.
Annie Joy — Acting Head of Teaching and Learning